Fourteen Locks

Photograph © David Griffiths and is licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.

Fourteen Locks (grid reference ST277886) is a series of locks on the Crumlin arm of the Monmouthshire Canal at Rogerstone in Newport, South Wales. The flight of locks was completed in 1799 and raises the water level 160 ft (50 m) in just 800 yd (740 m). This is one of the steepest rises for a major run in the UK which, combined with the sheer number of locks, makes it one of the most significant in the country. The run of locks includes a series of embanked ponds, pounds, sluices and weirs to control the water supply, with no set of gates shared between individual locks. It therefore comprises a flight of locks rather than a staircase lock.

Restoration
Only the top lock is currently in water. The rest are part of a restoration programme. The pound above Lock 21 (Top lock) suffers from an intermittent water supply. This has caused problems for the volunteers of the Mon & Brec canals Trust who have run boat trips through the lock on several occasions in 2004 to 2006. The next four locks 17,18,19 and 20 are due to be restored in 2009 to 2010.

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